NYPD Manhunt for Violent Thug who Beat and Robbed an 81-Year-Old Former Actress

The New York Police Department say they they're shocked by a vicious assault of an elderly woman inside of her West Village Apartment Complex over a literal few dollars.

According to the eighty-one year old woman, Barbara Davidson; she's seen a lot of different types of criminals in her life.

She was once an actress, for over forty years, starring in multiple films during her early 20s in Southern California where she's seen real gangsters and the final remnants of the wild west gangs during her post-Great Depression era career on the silver screens.

“In my time honey, even the criminals were gentleman. They'd say, ‘I'm sorry ma'am but I'm going to have take this’, and they were polite about their wrongdoings,” said Barbara Davis.

She says that she had just arrived back at her apartment from the pharmacy, and as she entered the West 13th Street and 7th Avenue building she noticed a dark figure following her inside but at first thought nothing of it.

The actress still stars in films to this day, and she's most recently remembered for her role in 2008 film “Don’t Mess with the Zohan” alongside Adam Sandler; but she's also just finished filming a small part in an upcoming movie as well.

All of those years in film couldn't prepare her for the role of victim though, she said, saying that she didn't think to try and look the monster in the face before he attacked her.

“I turned around, with real pain,” she said. “I had a big red bag. I saw the red bag flying out the door.”

Apparently she screamed when the thug attacked her; and that may have saved her life.

Sever neighbors heard her screaming at which time they rushed to her aid, startling the criminal who grabbed her purse and ran.

“He may have tried to her,” said one neighbor who said he immediately realized his elderly neighbor needed his help over chasing the purse snatcher.

That's when he called 911 and reported that the suspect, a black man, had ran from the building.

“I and several other neighbors came out of our apartments and helped her up. We asked what happened, one person was running out of the door to find the guy,” witness Virginia Koenig said.

Law enforcement is unsure as to who the savage criminal is despite having him recorded on the CCTV videos above.

The New York Police Department say that this is an active investigation and any tips from individuals that could lead them to the identity or the location of the perpetrator are urged to report them to the NYPD’s CrimeStoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or by texting 274637(CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.